Just arrived yesterday, courtesy of forum member bluejeannot, for half the price I've just sold my Springysound! The most beautiful looking strat I've ever owned. Sounds and plays every bit as good as it looks, easily on-par with a high-end Tokai. As you can probably tell I'm very happy

I don't know much about the guitar, apparently a recent (2005) model, if anyone can help provide some more details about the model I would be very grateful!

Have a look at the pics, click to view full size, they are well worth a look!

I'm so chuffed with my new 'not thin & weedy' Strat, I thought I should share it with you

I can confirm everything that John said. I played the guitar before Gabe sold it to John, & it was me that bought John's Springy ST80, so (for once!) I know what I'm talking about.

The Fernandes wouldn't suit me - not only is the neck maple (I prefer rosewood), but it's a bit chunkier than I like, but it looks really good, and the quality of the sound (clean through a decent valve amp) was easily as good as my Springy ST60 (E pickups), and very close to my magnificent gold Custom Shop Strat. I believe it has CTS pots & a Vitamin Q cap, so Fernandes didn't skimp when they made it.

Along with Tokai Goldstars, I reckon these Fernandes Strats and Teles have to be amongst the best buys you can get. They're not widely appreciated, so there are some bargains to be had if you keep your eyes open.

Since John has been heard to refer to Strats as "thin & weedy" on this very forum, his conversion is great news! Welcome to the club mate! A good Strat is a wonderful thing to own.

It's called blond (or blonde), and it's a proper Fender colour, though it was never very common on Strats. As it has gold hardware, it's known as a Mary Kaye Strat, after the Hawaiian jazz player who was photographed playing one in the late 50s. Blonde is usually only applied over an ash body so that the grain shows through - alder is qute plain in comparison, so it wouldn't look as good.

Which auction do you mean Sam? I bought John's ST80 in a private sale - it wasn't on eBay.

Nice. I hope you're actually going to keep this guitar for a decent period of time? Say 2 years minimum? You need to give it a chance to prove it's a keeper, & I'm sure if you sell it you'll regret it.

Tell you what, if you go mad and decide to sell it within 2 years, give me or Gabe first refusal. Then at least you'll know where it is when you realise you've made a mistake.

There are a few Fernades Strats & Teles on eBay UK at the moment, but this one caught my eye:

No, this one's a keeper!!! I've promised Gabe 1st refusal if I ever sell it, but I really don't think I will. It's so new it'll take some wearing out but I'll do my best! It's nice to have a new guitar for a change, one where everything works!

I never used to change guitars reguarly, I had my 1st strat for ten years and my LP special for nearly 20, it's just since I got an interest in Japanese guitars, so many to try and not enough money to keep them all. I am starting to aquire some definite 'keepers' though, my LS80 goldtop, my Greco EGF850, and now this Fernandes.

Yes there seems to be a glut of Fernandes strats on ebay UK at the minute, got my eye on one of them